Jan. 24, 2006 - A recent study indicates that demand for nonwoven roll goods is projected to increase 4.0 percent per year to
$5.1 billion in 2009, driven by healthy gains in key markets such as filtration,
construction, wipes and electronics. Further growth will derive from increased market
penetration in many applications, including industrial wipes and roofing membranes, as
new technologies improve the functionality of nonwoven materials.

However, Nonwovens, a new study from The Freedonia Group, says that gains will be limited by intense price competition in many consumer markets, as converted
product manufacturers seek to cut costs by reducing the amount of material in their
products and using less expensive nonwovens.

Spunbonded nonwovens will remain the dominant product, accounting for nearly
half of total volume in 2009, owing to their position as the material of choice in several
major markets such as baby diapers. However, air laid nonwovens will post the fastest
growth in both volume and value, fueled by increased use in wipes and hygiene
products, as well as higher prices compared to the 1999 to 2004 period. Although
carded and wet laid nonwovens are expected to see the slowest gains, certain
segments of these product types will have more favorable prospects.

Among disposables markets, consumer products will continue to account for the
largest portion of nonwovens sales, though growth will be restricted by belowaverage
advances in baby diaper and feminine hygiene markets. Nondisposables,
which comprised over 35 percent of nonwovens sales in 2004, will grow at a slower
pace than disposables. However, the largest nondisposable markets, construction and
electronics, will post above-average gains, fueled by robust growth in nonresidential
construction and solid increases in battery production.

Polypropylene and polyester were the most widely used fiber materials in 2004,
accounting for over three-quarters of fiber consumption in nonwovens, in the form of
both staple fibers and filament fibers produced by the spunbonded and meltblown
processes. Demand for cotton fibers will see the fastest growth, benefitting from
consumer preference for natural fibers in nonwoven products. Consumption of fibers
made with rayon (or viscose) fibers will post the slowest growth through 2009, as these
fibers are increasingly replaced by polypropylene and polyester.